US9561570B2 - Machine tool - Google Patents

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Publication number
US9561570B2
US9561570B2 US14/436,647 US201314436647A US9561570B2 US 9561570 B2 US9561570 B2 US 9561570B2 US 201314436647 A US201314436647 A US 201314436647A US 9561570 B2 US9561570 B2 US 9561570B2
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Prior art keywords
tool
breakage
magazine
machining
detecting
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US14/436,647
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US20150266153A1 (en
Inventor
Yuji Kanehira
Nobuhito Oki
Yasuo Hasegawa
Hisaki Itabashi
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Komatsu NTC Ltd
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Komatsu NTC Ltd
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Assigned to KOMATSU NTC LTD. reassignment KOMATSU NTC LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HASEGAWA, YASUO, ITABASHI, HISAKI, KANEHIRA, YUJI, OKI, Nobuhito
Publication of US20150266153A1 publication Critical patent/US20150266153A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q11/00—Accessories fitted to machine tools for keeping tools or parts of the machine in good working condition or for cooling work; Safety devices specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools
    • B23Q11/08—Protective coverings for parts of machine tools; Splash guards
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q17/00—Arrangements for observing, indicating or measuring on machine tools
    • B23Q17/09—Arrangements for observing, indicating or measuring on machine tools for indicating or measuring cutting pressure or for determining cutting-tool condition, e.g. cutting ability, load on tool
    • B23Q17/0904—Arrangements for observing, indicating or measuring on machine tools for indicating or measuring cutting pressure or for determining cutting-tool condition, e.g. cutting ability, load on tool before or after machining
    • B23Q17/0909—Detection of broken tools
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q17/00—Arrangements for observing, indicating or measuring on machine tools
    • B23Q17/24—Arrangements for observing, indicating or measuring on machine tools using optics or electromagnetic waves
    • B23Q17/2452—Arrangements for observing, indicating or measuring on machine tools using optics or electromagnetic waves for measuring features or for detecting a condition of machine parts, tools or workpieces
    • B23Q17/2457—Arrangements for observing, indicating or measuring on machine tools using optics or electromagnetic waves for measuring features or for detecting a condition of machine parts, tools or workpieces of tools
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
    • B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
    • B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
    • B23Q3/157—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools
    • B23Q3/15713—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle
    • B23Q3/1572—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
    • B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
    • B23Q3/157—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools
    • B23Q3/15713—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle
    • B23Q3/1572—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means
    • B23Q3/15722—Rotary discs or drums
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q11/00—Accessories fitted to machine tools for keeping tools or parts of the machine in good working condition or for cooling work; Safety devices specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools
    • B23Q11/08—Protective coverings for parts of machine tools; Splash guards
    • B23Q11/0891—Protective coverings for parts of machine tools; Splash guards arranged between the working area and the operator
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
    • B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
    • B23Q3/157—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools
    • B23Q3/15706—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a single tool being inserted in a spindle directly from a storage device, i.e. without using transfer devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q3/00—Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine
    • B23Q3/155—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling
    • B23Q3/157—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools
    • B23Q3/15713—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle
    • B23Q3/1572—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means
    • B23Q3/15753—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means the storage means rotating or circulating in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the spindle
    • B23Q3/15766—Arrangements for automatic insertion or removal of tools, e.g. combined with manual handling of rotary tools a transfer device taking a single tool from a storage device and inserting it in a spindle the storage device comprising rotating or circulating storing means the storage means rotating or circulating in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the spindle the axis of the stored tools being arranged perpendicularly to the rotating or circulating plane of the storage means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
    • G05B2219/30—Nc systems
    • G05B2219/37—Measurements
    • G05B2219/37244—Detect tool breakage already in tool magazine
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T483/00—Tool changing
    • Y10T483/11—Tool changing with safety means
    • Y10T483/115—Guard
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T483/00—Tool changing
    • Y10T483/13—Tool changing with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
    • Y10T483/136—Responsive to tool
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T483/00—Tool changing
    • Y10T483/13—Tool changing with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
    • Y10T483/136—Responsive to tool
    • Y10T483/138—Responsive to tool including means to monitor and control, i.e., adaptive machining
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T483/00—Tool changing
    • Y10T483/17—Tool changing including machine tool or component
    • Y10T483/1733—Rotary spindle machine tool [e.g., milling machine, boring, machine, grinding machine, etc.]
    • Y10T483/179—Direct tool exchange between spindle and matrix
    • Y10T483/1793—Spindle comprises tool changer
    • Y10T483/1795—Matrix indexes selected tool to transfer position

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a machine tool, specifically, relates to a machine tool provided with a tool breakage detecting device for detecting breakage of a tool returned to a tool magazine.
  • patent documents 1 to 3 there is known a technique to detect breakage of a tool after machining a workpiece in a machining apparatus (for example, patent documents 1 to 3).
  • a technique is disclosed, in which technique each of a plurality of detecting devices is disposed on a side position of a corresponding tool of a plurality of tools attached to a multi-spindle head to detect breakage of the tools.
  • a technique is disclosed for a tool delivery device for storing a tool attached to a spindle in a tool magazine, in which technique there is provided a linear movement zone on the way of a movement way of the tool, and a tool breakage detecting device is provided in the linear movement zone.
  • a detector and a tool approach section for detecting breakage of a tool stored in a tool stocker are disclosed.
  • Patent document 1 Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H05-146953 (paragraph 0011, FIG. 3)
  • Patent document 2 Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-280139 (claim 1, paragraph 0028, FIGS. 1 to 4)
  • Patent document 3 Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2010-131719 (paragraph 0011, FIG. 3)
  • a corresponding tool breakage detecting device (contact switch, contactor) is provided for each of the tools, so that there have been problems that the number of parts is increased because of the complexity of the constitution and man-hours is also increased because adjustment of the tool breakage detecting devices is complex.
  • the detecting of breakage of a tool is performed on the way where the tool having been attached to the spindle is returned to the tool magazine, so that there have been problems that the number of parts is increased because of the complexity of the constitution and the time required for detecting breakage of a tool depresses the operation time of the machine tool.
  • a shutter to separate the tool stocker from a machining chamber is not provided. So, in a case where the detecting of the breakage is performed, for example, during machining, coolant, chips, or the like is scattered to the tool stocker from the machining chamber, so that the coolant or the like floats in the environment of the detecting. Therefore, there is a risk that erroneous detection might be caused. And in a case where the detecting of the breakage is performed while, after the tool is stocked in the tool stocker, the following process machining is performed with another tool, if the tool used in the preceding process is broken, a trouble occurs in the following process, so that a sequential breakage of the tools may be induced.
  • the present invention is created to solve such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine tool provided with a tool breakage detecting device capable of improving the operational efficiency while preventing erroneous detection by improving the detecting accuracy.
  • the present invention provides a machine tool, comprising:
  • machining chamber to cover a machining zone to machine the workpiece with use of the tool
  • a tool magazine which is disposed over the machining chamber, stores a plurality of tools, and is a rotational disc type magazine;
  • a shutter which is disposed between the tool magazine and the machining chamber, and is capable of opening and closing;
  • a tool exchange device to exchange the tool attached to the spindle device for a tool stored in the tool magazine
  • a tool breakage detecting device to detect whether a tool indexed to a tool detecting position of the tool magazine has breakage or not
  • a controller to control operations of the spindle device, the tool exchange device, and the tool breakage detecting device
  • the machine tool according to claim 1 of the present invention detects breakage of a tool in a closed state of the shutter with use of the tool breakage detecting device, so that the machine tool is capable of preventing coolant, chips, and/or the like from entering the tool magazine from the machining chamber even during machining a workpiece while jetting the coolant thereto. That is, coolant and/or the like can be prevented from staying around the tool magazine to detect breakage of a tool to avoid erroneous detection.
  • the tool breakage detecting device to detect whether a tool indexed to the tool detecting position of the tool magazine has breakage or not, so that a tool breakage detecting device is not needed to be disposed for each tool stored in the tool magazine. Therefore, the constitution can be simplified.
  • the tool machine includes the tool breakage detecting device, erroneous detection can be prevented and a detecting accuracy can be improved even during machining a workpiece. And as breakage of a tool stored in the tool magazine is detected during machining a workpiece, the operational efficiency can be improved.
  • the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention provides the machine tool according to claim 1 , wherein the controller judges whether a portion of the workpiece to be machined with the first tool is the same portion as a portion to be machined with the second tool or not, and wherein in a case of the same portion, the controller gives an instruction to perform machining the workpiece with use of the second tool attached to the spindle device after the controller confirms that the first tool has not breakage in the breakage detecting step.
  • the invention according to claim 3 of the present invention provides the machine tool according to claim 1 , wherein the controller judges whether a portion of the workpiece to be machined with the first tool is the same portion as a portion to be machined with the second tool or not, and wherein in a case of non-same portion, the controller performs the breakage detecting step after the controller gives an instruction to perform machining the workpiece with use of the second tool.
  • the operational efficiency of the machine tool can be improved.
  • the tool breakage detecting device can improve the operational efficiency of the machine tool while improving the detecting accuracy and preventing erroneous detection.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a constitution of a horizontal machining center provided with a tool breakage detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view viewed from the rear side of FIG. 1 and showing a constitution of a detecting unit and a moving unit of the tool breakage detecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention
  • FIGS. 3 A to 3 C are views to explain an operation of the machine tool provided with the tool breakage detecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3A is a partial front view of an peripheral zone of a tool magazine
  • FIG. 3B is a plan view showing a state before moving of an optical sensor
  • FIG. 3C is a plan view showing completion of the detecting after the moving of the optical sensor
  • FIGS. 4A to 4E are process views to explain the operation of the machine tool provided with the tool breakage detecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4A is a view showing a first tool is returned
  • FIG. 4B is a view showing a second tool is dispensed
  • FIG. 4C is a view showing completion of moving of the first tool for a breakage detecting
  • FIG. 4D is a view showing retreat of the optical sensor
  • FIG. 4E is a view showing completion of the preparation of an ATC operation for returning the second tool.
  • FIG. 5 is a flowing chart showing the operation of the machine tool provided with the tool breakage detecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • a horizontal machining center 100 which is a machine tool provided with a tool breakage detecting device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, will be explained in detail appropriately with reference to Figures.
  • the horizontal machining center 100 provided with the tool breakage detecting device 1 includes frames 100 a , a spindle device 101 , a machining chamber WR, a machining chamber cover 102 , a tool magazine 103 , a magazine cover 104 a , a shutter device 105 , a tool exchange device 106 , the tool breakage detecting device 1 , and a controller 4 .
  • the frames 100 a are standing on a bed not shown.
  • a tool Ta is attached to the spindle 101 .
  • the machining chamber WR defines a machining zone.
  • the machining chamber cover 102 covers the machining zone to form the machining chamber WR.
  • the tool magazine 103 is a rotational disc type one which stores a large number of tools Tb, and is disposed over the machining chamber WR.
  • the magazine cover 104 a covers the tool magazine 103 .
  • the shutter device 105 opens or closes a shutter 105 a disposed between the tool magazine 103 and the machining chamber WR.
  • the tool exchange device 106 exchanges the tool Ta attached to the spindle device 101 for a tool Tb stored in the tool magazine 103 .
  • the tool breakage detecting device 1 detects the presence or absence of breakage of a tool.
  • the controller 4 controls operations of the spindle 101 , the shutter device 105 , the tool exchange device 106 , and the tool breakage detecting device 1 .
  • the tool breakage detecting device 1 is applied to the horizontal machining center 100 in the present embodiment, but is not limited to this. That is, the tool breakage detecting device 1 can be applied to various machine tools like a vertical machining center or a transfer machine. For this reason, the constitution of the horizontal machining center 100 is not specifically limited. So in FIG. 1 , only structural elements necessary for the explanation are shown, and the other elements are not shown and explanations of those are omitted. Furthermore, in FIG. 1 , a magazine chamber MR is shown in a scale larger than the machining chamber WR for convenience of the explanation.
  • the spindle device 101 is a device to rotate the tool Ta attached to the front end portion of the spindle device, and is configured to be capable of freely moving, for example, in a left-right direction (X-axis direction), in an upper-lower direction (Y-axis direction), and in a front-rear direction (Z-axis direction). And a workpiece (not shown), which is clamped in the machining chamber WR, is machined with the tool Ta in a state where the front end portion of the spindle device 101 is positioned in the machining chamber WR.
  • X-axis direction left-right direction
  • Y-axis direction upper-lower direction
  • Z-axis direction front-rear direction
  • a tool which is used in the horizontal machining center 100 is designated like a tool Ta or a tool Tb so that they are made a distinction between them, but in a case of no necessity of specific distinction, the tool is designated as a tool T in some cases.
  • the tool T is the generic name including a plurality of tools Tb stored in the tool magazine 103 , the tool Ta attached to the spindle device 101 , and a tool Tw to be detected at a tool detecting position.
  • the machining chamber WR is the machining zone for a workpiece, which zone is defined by the machining chamber cover 102 so that the coolant, chips, or the like is not scattered during machining.
  • the front portion of the spindle device 101 advances into, and is disposed in the machining chamber WR through a rear cover 102 a of the machining chamber cover 102 .
  • the rear cover 102 a of the machining chamber cover 102 is formed of a shielding member capable of freely following like bellows so that the spindle device 101 is capable of freely moving.
  • the tool magazine 103 is a device for storing a large number of tools T (Tb, Tw) to be attached to the spindle device 101 , and a plurality of holding claws 103 a for holding the tools T are disposed along the circumference of the tool magazine 103 .
  • Each of the holding claws 103 a has holding force by a spring (not shown) in a direction to hold a tool T. So the tool T is inserted therein to be held in the holding claw 103 a and the tool T being held is drawn out to be released.
  • the magazine cover 104 a is a case which covers the tool magazine 103 to accommodate it, and define the magazine chamber MR so that chips, scale, or the like does not adhere onto the tool magazine 103 or onto the tools Tb or the like stored in the tool magazine 103 .
  • the shutter 105 a which is capable of opening and closing is attached to the lower portion of the magazine cover 104 a , and a dust-protection hood 104 b is disposed on the upper portion of the magazine cover 104 a.
  • the shutter device 105 is a device to partition off the magazine chamber MR from the machining chamber WR with the shutter 105 a , which device is capable of opening and closing.
  • the shutter device 105 includes the slidable shutter 105 a disposed in an opening at the lower portion of the magazine cover 104 a , a linear guide mechanism 105 b to guide the shutter 105 a slidably in a horizontal direction, and an air cylinder (not shown) which is an actuator to move the shutter 105 a slidably.
  • the air cylinder is disposed behind the magazine cover 104 a so that coolant or the like does not adhere thereto. Since the air cylinder can be also disposed in the magazine chamber MR with dustproof countermeasures, the position is not limited thereto. So a detailed description is omitted.
  • the shutter device 105 is configured so that the magazine chamber MR and the machining chamber WR are conducted to each other by opening the shutter 105 a when the tool exchange device 106 exchanges the tool Ta, and the magazine chamber MR and the machining chamber WR are isolated to each other by closing the shutter 105 a when machining is done in the machining chamber WR.
  • the shutter device 105 prevent coolant or the like from entering the magazine chamber MR from the machining room WR even during machining, to restrain the coolant or the like from staying in the magazine chamber MR to detect breakage of a tool.
  • erroneous detection with use of the tool breakage detecting device 1 can be prevented.
  • the tool exchange device 106 is a device to exchange a tool T attached to the spindle device 101 for some other tool T, has various types, and is not particularly limited.
  • the tool T is exchanged by moving the spindle device 101 with use of a movement device (not shown) for the spindle device 101 .
  • FIG. 3A is a front view showing a tool exchange wait position P 1 in the ATC operation.
  • the tool exchange wait position P 1 of the spindle device 101 is a position just under a central axis C of the tool magazine 103 , and is in a state where the shutter 105 a is opened.
  • the tool Ta (T 1 ) is exchanged between the spindle device 101 and the tool magazine 103 at a position (tool exchange position P 0 ) where the spindle device 101 has been moved upward from the tool exchange wait position P 1 .
  • FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic front views showing the ATC operation.
  • the ATC operation includes a step (refer to FIG. 4A ) of returning a tool to the tool magazine in which the first tool T 1 used in the preceding process in the state attached to the spindle device 101 is stored in the tool magazine 103 , and a step (refer to FIG. 4B ) of selecting a second tool T 2 to be used in the following process out of the tool magazine 103 , to attach the tool T 2 to the spindle device 101 .
  • the first tool T 1 is unclamped with use of a clamping unit (not shown) disposed in the spindle device 101 , and then the spindle device 101 is moved backward, so that the first tool T 1 is returned to the tool magazine 103 .
  • the second tool T 2 which has been stored in the tool magazine 103 and is used in the following process is attached to the spindle device 101 , the second tool T 2 is rotated in the clockwise direction by ⁇ 1 degrees from the position shown in FIG. 4A , so that the tool T 2 is indexed to the tool exchange position P 0 (position just under the central axis of the tool magazine) of the tool magazine 103 (refer to FIG. 4B ).
  • the empty spindle device 101 with no tool T is advanced, and then the second tool T 2 disposed at the tool exchange position P 0 of the tool magazine 103 is inserted in the spindle device 101 , then the second tool T 2 is attached to the spindle device 101 while clamping the second tool T 2 with use of the clamping unit (not shown) disposed in the spindle device 101 , and then the spindle device 101 is moved downward from the tool exchange position P 0 .
  • the tool breakage detecting device 1 includes an optical sensor 2 which is a detecting unit to detect presence or absence of breakage of a tool Tw to be detected (refer to FIGS. 1, 3A ), and a movement unit 3 to move the optical sensor 2 along the axis line of the tool Tw to be detected positioned at a tool detecting position Tw (position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A ).
  • an optical sensor 2 which is a detecting unit to detect presence or absence of breakage of a tool Tw to be detected (refer to FIGS. 1, 3A ), and a movement unit 3 to move the optical sensor 2 along the axis line of the tool Tw to be detected positioned at a tool detecting position Tw (position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A ).
  • the tool Tw to be detected is an objective tool, breakage of which is detected with use of the tool breakage detecting device 1 , and is a tool positioned just beside the rotational center C, which position is a position rotated by 90 degrees in the clockwise direction from the position just under the rotational center C, which position is the tool exchange position P 0 of the tool magazine 103 (refer to also FIG. 1 ).
  • the optical sensor 2 includes a light emitting portion 21 to emit detection light L, a light detecting portion 22 to receive to detect the detection light L which has been emitted, and a judgment unit (not shown) to judge whether the detection light L has been received by the light detecting portion 22 or not.
  • the judgment unit is constituted by a memory device, a calculation device, a light detecting circuit, and the like. And the judgment unit is capable of judging presence or absence of breakage of the tool Tw to be detected by comparing data (a length, a diameter, and the like of the tool) of the tool Tw to be detected in the state (refer to FIG. 3C ) where the detection light L emitted from the light emitting portion 21 is shielded by the tool Tw to be detected with data of the tool Tw to be detected in the normal state stored in advance.
  • the optical sensor 2 of a noncontact type is employed in this embodiment, but the detecting unit is not limited to this.
  • a contact type detecting unit may be also employed, which unit detects breakage of the tool by contacting of a contactor with the tool.
  • the movement unit 3 is a unit to move the optical sensor 2 (the light emitting portion 21 and the light detecting portion 22 ) along the axis line CL of the tool Tw to be detected with so-called feed screw mechanism. And the movement unit 3 includes a supporting bracket 31 placed on the frame 100 a (refer to FIG.
  • the movement unit 3 is configured to control a rotation of the motor 34 to convert a rotation of the feed screw 33 to a linear movement of the saddle 36 according to control of the controller 4 (refer to FIG. 1 ), so that a current position of the optical sensor 2 can be detected while an amount of the movement of the optical sensor is controlled.
  • the controller 4 (refer to FIG. 1 ) is constituted by electronic circuits of a memory unit, a calculation unit, an information processor, and the like, and is a controller to control operations of the spindle device 101 , the shutter device 105 , the tool exchange device 106 , and the tool breakage detecting device 1 .
  • FIG. 4C is a schematic front view showing an operation of a detecting breakage step.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation of the horizontal machining center.
  • the controller 4 judges whether a portion machined with the first tool T 1 (preceding process) is the same portion as a portion to be machined with the second tool T 2 (following process) or not (S 1 ), in the case of the same portion (Yes in S 1 ), the detecting breakage step is performed (S 3 ).
  • the detecting breakage step is performed (S 14 ) after an instruction to perform machining the workpiece with the second tool T 2 is given (S 12 ).
  • the returning step (refer to FIG. 4A ) of returning the first tool T 1 used in the first machining process which is a preceding process to the tool magazine 103 , and the attaching step (refer to FIG. 4B ) of attaching the second tool T 2 to be used in the second machining process which is a following process to the spindle device 101 are performed with use of the tool exchange device 106 , and then the breakage detecting step is performed in a closed state of the shutter 105 a . Then it is detected whether the first tool T 1 returned to the tool magazine 103 has breakage or not (refer to FIG. 4C ).
  • the breakage detecting step includes an index process (S 2 , S 13 ) and a detecting process (S 3 , S 14 ).
  • the index process is a process to move the first tool T 1 which is a tool to be detected to the tool detecting position (refer to the tool Tw to be detected shown in FIG. 1 ).
  • the detecting process is a process to detect whether the first tool T 1 indexed to the tool detecting position Tw to be detected has breakage or not.
  • the index process (S 2 , S 13 ) is a process in which in the closed state of the shutter 105 a , the first tool T 1 is rotated clockwise by ⁇ 2 degrees to index the first tool to the tool detecting position from the position shown in FIG. 4B (refer to FIG. 4C ).
  • the detecting process (S 3 , S 14 ) is a process in which as shown in FIG. 4C , the judgment unit judges whether the tool T 1 has breakage or not on the basis of a state where the light emitting portion 21 (refer to FIG. 2 ) emits the detection light L and the light detecting portion 22 receives the detection light L while the optical sensor 2 moves along the axis line CL of the first tool T 1 (tool Tw to be detected) according to the operation of the movement unit 3 (refer to FIG. 2 ).
  • the controller 4 gives an instruction to perform the second machining process with use of the second tool T 2 attached to the spindle device 101 (S 6 ).
  • the horizontal machining center 100 is shifted to an advanced operation for returning the second tool T 2 to exchange the second tool for a third tool T 3 to be used in the following process (refer to FIGS. 4D and 4E ).
  • the advanced operation for returning the second tool T 2 is an operation to index the empty holding claw 103 a (refer to FIG. 1 ) which the second tool T 2 has been out of, to the tool exchange position P 0 of the tool magazine 103 by rotating the empty holding claw 103 a counterclockwise by ⁇ 2 degrees from the position shown in FIG. 4D (refer to FIG. 4E ).
  • the tool breakage detecting device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has the following operational advantages.
  • the tool breakage detecting device 1 detects absence of breakage of the tool T 1 , and the second machining process is performed with use of the second tool T 2 (S 4 to S 6 ). Therefore, a successive damage of the second tool T 2 (reamer, tap) in the following process to be caused by breakage of the first tool T 1 (drill) used in the preceding process (prepared hole machining) can be prevented.
  • the present invention confirms there is no breakage on the first tool T 1 .
  • the breakage detecting step is performed (S 13 ⁇ S 14 ) after an instruction to perform machining the workpiece with use of the second tool T 2 is given (S 12 ). Therefore, it can be confirmed during the second machining process whether the first tool T 1 has breakage in the first machining process or not, so that the operational efficiency of the horizontal machining center 100 can be further improved.
  • the movement unit 3 which moves the optical sensor 2 along the axial line of the tool Tw to be detected.
  • Optical sensors 2 can be disposed at a plurality of positions along the axial line of the tool Tw to be detected.
  • the optical sensor 2 to detect breakage of a tool is disposed at a position in the horizontal direction through the central axis of the tool magazine 103 , but is not limited to this.
  • the optical sensor 2 can be disposed at a position higher than the position in the horizontal direction, and a position of the optical sensor 2 can be properly set according to a shape or the like of the tool magazine.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Machine Tool Sensing Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Automatic Tool Replacement In Machine Tools (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Turning (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For Machine Tools (AREA)
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JP2012-262506 2012-11-30
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US10300571B2 (en) * 2017-06-08 2019-05-28 Poju International Co., Ltd Intellectual automatic tool changer speed moderating system
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KR20210063902A (ko) * 2019-11-25 2021-06-02 두산공작기계 주식회사 공작기계 공구매거진과 주축 사이의 공구교환방법
JP7167090B2 (ja) * 2020-06-01 2022-11-08 本田技研工業株式会社 工作機械における加工方法
JP6991375B1 (ja) 2021-02-15 2022-01-12 Dmg森精機株式会社 工作機械
JP6991376B1 (ja) 2021-02-15 2022-01-12 Dmg森精機株式会社 工作機械
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JP6991382B1 (ja) 2021-06-07 2022-01-12 Dmg森精機株式会社 工作機械
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CN104837591B (zh) 2017-03-08
EP2926945A4 (de) 2017-02-15
US20150266153A1 (en) 2015-09-24
WO2014084376A1 (ja) 2014-06-05
MX360286B (es) 2018-10-25
EP2926945B1 (de) 2018-08-01
EP2926945A1 (de) 2015-10-07
CN104837591A (zh) 2015-08-12
JPWO2014084376A1 (ja) 2017-01-05
MX2015006470A (es) 2015-12-03
KR102046577B1 (ko) 2019-11-20
JP6326374B2 (ja) 2018-05-16
KR20150088246A (ko) 2015-07-31

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